Neal takes a shot at one of his two favorite targets, Peter Fitzgerald. And the news is not good for the reclusive Fitzgerald. His generic reelect is at 24 percent.
I’m surprised it is that low given Fitzgerald hasn’t been that vocal, but that seems to be the key. He makes few public appearances and doesn’t announce his schedule so few in Illinois know what the guy is doing.
Neal dislike Fitzgerald and has made no bones about it. He quite often expresses the same level of dislike for Dick Durbin. The poll was leaked from a Republican source which means someone from McKenna’s camp trying to soften the blow of taking on an incumbent. Possibly Lahood or Hastert’s people passed it on if it wasn’t McKenna himself.
Given how bruising such a primary would be and Fitzgerald’s good standing with conservatives who have the nominating process locked up, it is likely that Illinois will be a Democratic pick-up barring a stupid choice. Given the stupidest choice is thinking of running for President, Fitzgerald is probably leaving DC in two years.